Sunday, June 1, 2014

Govt to strengthen English language in teachers’ colleges

AFTER having
realised the standard of English teaching methodology in the country is gradually
deteriorating, the government has reiterated its commitment to continue putting
more emphasis on English language teaching programmes for Teachers’ Training
colleges (TTC) in the country. The move by the government has come at a time
when the education sector in the country is seriously blamed for high failures
of the examination results of both Ordinary and Advanced level students’
performance rates resulting partly from poor understanding of English language
being taught in schools. The Director for teachers’ colleges in the country
Bakari Issa said yesterday in Dar es Salaam that, the programme which started
two years ago has targeted only 34 public TTCs in the country aims to get
qualified teachers who would use English language for communication while
teaching students at all levels of education from primary up to secondary
schools. He said the programme would later on spread to other private teachers’
colleges accredited in the country with the same mission that aims to strengthen
the basic use of English language in public schools which in the past recent
decades has deteriorated its quality standards resulting into poor performance
level standards. Bakari issued the plea at a function whereby he received over
800 dictionaries for primary and secondary level dictionaries to TTC and
schools across the country. The books which have been donated by British
Council Tanzania office are part of the EQUIPT ELT classroom project which is a
larger British Council’s mission aimed at enhancing the quality of English
education in Tanzania’s schools. “We are working with the British Council to
develop relevant modern materials for schools that work in the Tanzanian
context”, he said adding that the English training will broaden up the minds of
both teachers and students alike. Elaborating more about the project, the
Director of English at the British Council David Pardoe said that, the EQUIPT
ELT is designed to equip teacher trainers with the English language skills they
need to engage, inspire and empower future generations of Tanzanians. The
project is works in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Vocational
Training in the country with a view to achieve its aim of increasing access to
quality education through the medium of English. He further noted that, the aim
of the project is to provide teacher trainers with access to a diverse range of
educational tools to support the training and teaching capabilities of
students. However, he is optimistic that the donated materials will help
catalyze and improve English education in Tanzania’s schools. The ‘Connecting
Classroom’ programme runs in over 50 countries and is just one of British
Council’s many active projects. In Tanzania, the project provides schools with
international school partnerships, professional development for teachers,
school leadership trainings, working to embed Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning. In Tanzania more than 300 schools
take part in the ‘Connecting Classrooms’ project where teachers’ capacities are
enhanced and young learners get the ability to gain knowledge and skills
through international cultural interactions using alternative technology in
learning and improving their English language skills as a result.

AWARD 1

I won the second prize in policy category of the African Information society Initiative ( AISI) awards 2004 which is annually organized by the United Nations- Economic Commission for Africa ( UNECA) based in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. On the first photo above standing with other awardees after the Ceremony at the National Settlers monument in Grahamstown, South Africa.This was during the 8th Highway Africa Conference.The second photo shows the cross section of Jounalists from different African countries who attended the ceremony.

AWARD 2

I also won the AISI-GKP/SDC Media Award special reporting on WSIS process and Africa, and conferred with the award in Tunis, Tunisia during WSIS summit in 2005. See the photo above.

AWARD 3

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about " Stigma denial and Discrimination" associated with HIV/AIDS. This was organized by theAssociation of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT). On the Photo above President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania, ( then the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony.This was at Maelezo auditorium in Dar-es-Salaam September 2005.

AWARD 4

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about "Vulnerable Children" associated with HIV/AIDS This was organized by the Association of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT)

AWARD 5

Winner of the National ICT Media Award organized By SWOPNET in the Country. On the photo above Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General ( Rt) Saidi Kalembo was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony which was held at New Sarvoy Hotel in morogoro town.I was awarded a Mobile phone and a tape-recorder.

AWARD 6

I participated in the Media Competition in writing about VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) in Tanzania which was held between July 15th and October 30th 2008 whereby I emerged among the top five winners. The competition was under the program known as “Tanzania bila Ukwimwi inawezekana” which literally means, Tanzania without AIDS disease transmission is possible”. This is a program which was organizedby the Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) under TACAIDS funding. In the photo, I am being presented with a certificate of participation by the Chairman of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Dr. Fatma Mrisho in a colorful ceremony which was held on 22nd December 2008 at Tanzania Information Centre in Dar es Salaam.

AWARD 7

AWARD 8

AWARD 9

I was among the top 17 best selected students who excelled in their final examinations of the 2010/2011 academic year and awarded with the Vice-Chancellor’s prize. I scored 4.5 GPA (First Class) in BA in Journalism. Above I am being given a certificate by the Chairman of the Open University of Tanzania Board of Senate. Standing at the centre facing camera is the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tolly Mbwette. Extreme left partly hidden is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Elifas Bisanda. This occasion took place during the convocation meeting, a day before the graduation day at the prospective permanent headquarter of the Open University of Tanzania which is currently under construction at Bungo-Kibaha in Coast region 40 kilometers away west of Dar es Salaam city.